Dhaka University teachers and students rally on campus on Thursday, demanding the release of detained students, justice for those killed and an end to police ‘attacks’ on them centring the quota protests. — FE Photo Teachers, lawyers and medical professionals on Thursday joined nationwide student demonstrations, in solidarity with the 'Remembering Our Heroes' campaign.
The protests denounced violence against students and academics, demanded the release of detained individuals and called for an independent investigation into the more than 200 deaths that occurred during the quota reform movement.
Police detained student activists in some areas, while university teachers in others intervened to prevent arrests.
Teachers and students from various universities joined an anti-oppression rally at Dhaka University on Thursday. Despite the rain, demonstrators gathered at the foot of the Aparajeya Bangla monument.
The government will not prosecute the murderers. Because they themselves are murderers, teachers said at the rally.
They demanded the trial of those responsible for the killings, the unconditional release of detained students, the lifting of the curfew, an end to mass arrests and the reopening of all educational institutions.
After the rally, participants marched to the Raju Memorial sculpture before observing a minute's silence at the Shaheed Minar.
Meanwhile, the pro-Awami League teachers' body 'Nil Dal' urged students to end their protests, claiming that their demands had been met. The group held a press conference at Dhaka University Club.
However, the agitating teachers announced a new protest on Friday, gathering at the Press Club at 3 pm and marching to the Shaheed Minar. They invited the public to join them.
Physicians across the country announced plans for a protest at the Central Shahid Minar on Friday in support of the ongoing student movement.
At Jahangirnagar University, teachers and students staged a protest on Thursday to condemn attacks on faculty members at Dhaka and Chittagong universities.
Demonstrators denounced nationwide violence, killings, arrests and false cases linked to the quota movement.
They called for the release of detained students, including Arif Sohel and Sabbir Hossain Leon. Twelve teachers from Daffodil International University joined the protest.
At Jahangirnagar, a procession began at the Shaheed Minar, followed by a march to the old Fazilatunnessa Hall and a minute's silence at the student-civilian martyrs' monument. Students from the Fine Arts and Drama departments performed at the Shaheed Minar.
At the lower court area in Dhaka, hundreds of students and lawyers marched, demanding justice for those killed and arrested during the quota reform movement.
Expressing solidarity with the 'Remembering Our Heroes' campaign, they began their procession at the Dhaka Bar Association and ended at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
In Khulna, teachers from the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) formed a human chain and held a silent march at the university's Durbar Bangla monument. They protested the killing and persecution of students and civilians and demanded justice. Professor Md Helal An Nahiyan led the demonstration.
In Barishal, police detained 12 students from Barishal University as they attempted to gather for a 'Remembering Our Heroes' event, reports UNB.
University coordinators Sujoy Shuvo and M H Tamal were among those arrested.
Police cited security concerns for the detentions. Despite having no official presence on campus, some Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists were active in the area.
In Rajshahi, teachers and students participated in a silent march to protest the killing of students nationwide. Participants wore red clothing. When law enforcers attempted to arrest some students, university teachers intervened.
A confrontation erupted between students, teachers, and law enforcement officers in Rajshahi. Students, who insisted they were protesting peacefully, accused plainclothes officers of unprovoked aggression.
Labanya, a student from Barindra Medical College, said, "We participated in the peaceful march with the teachers. Law enforcers in civil dress hit us and tried to forcibly take us without any reason. If we are not accused of any crime, why is this happening? We came to protest peacefully."
In Lakshmipur, students held a protest march in Ramganj to mark the 'Remembering Our Heroes' campaign.
Demonstrators chained themselves together and chanted slogans against the killing, abduction and attacks on students.
More than 100 people took part in the march, which began at City Plaza and covered the main streets of the town.
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